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Paul McCartney

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul McCartney was born on 18 June 1942 in Liverpool. His father played jazz, and as a teenager Paul taught himself to play piano and guitar and to write songs. Little Richard and Buddy Holly were his role models. In 1957 he joined The Quarrymen, John Lennon's skiffle group, which became The Beatles in 1960. There he played bass and keyboards and shared the songwriting and lead vocals with Lennon.

Music and breakthrough

Their partnership became the most successful in music history. McCartney songs such as Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby and Blackbird are among the most covered songs ever. He immersed himself in the London avant-garde and helped bring experimental studio techniques into the music of The Beatles. From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) he increasingly became the group's de facto leader. After the break-up he made his solo debut in 1970 with McCartney and, with his wife Linda and Denny Laine, formed the band Wings. Wings became one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, with hits such as My Love, Band on the Run and Mull of Kintyre.

Influence

McCartney is known for his melodic bass parts, his wide vocal range and his versatility. He wrote in styles ranging from pre-war pop to ballads, classical music and electronics. Later he sang duets with Stevie Wonder (Ebony and Ivory) and Michael Jackson (Say Say Say). He wrote or co-wrote 32 number ones on the American Billboard Hot 100, more than anyone else. In 1997 he was knighted.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Yesterday (1965) by The Beatles. Notice how bare the song is: McCartney sings with only an acoustic guitar, and a string quartet fills in the rest, with no drums and no other Beatles.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists